20. Lolo Pass

Lolo Pass: This Indian trail across the Bitterroot Mountains was used by western Indians to reach the eastern plains buffalo hunting grounds for centuries before Lewis and Clark arrived. The expedition found the trail through the cold, high ground difficult, rocky and steep. One of their horses fell 300 feet down a mountainside.

As the Indians had told them, there was no game. They were forced to eat candles, bear oil, horsemeat, and packaged "portable" soup they'd brought from the east. Almost the entire group became ill. In fact, they very nearly starved to death. After emerging from Lolo Pass, they began to construct canoes on September 27, after getting food from another native band.

Thanks for visiting the Montana Kids' Site! We hope you've found the information both educational and entertaining. If you have comments or suggestions on ways we can improve the site please send us email at montanakids@visitmt.com.

You can also help your family plan a trip to Montana. Have your folks request a statewide travel packet by clicking here.